RNS510 + audio upgrade suggestions?

[hannson]

hi RF 4Motion,

is this the right product? RF-BLD (Balanced Line Driver)



er.. are there any cable kits for the RNS510 to plug into the BLD or must I cut/tap/splice wires? Cheers!

[RF 4MOTION]

Hannson, that is the item I have in my car, the brand new 3Sixty BLD. Splice into or tap off the wires behind the deck straight out of the loom. I have used power ground and front speakers from the loom. I have made a short run of wires and mounted the BLD above where the clutch pedal would be (inside the removeable cover under the steering column). You need to know what you are doing when splicing from the loom, you dont want to damage anything or blow anything up.....

[hannson]

Hannson, that is the item I have in my car, the brand new 3Sixty BLD. Splice into or tap off the wires behind the deck straight out of the loom. I have used power ground and front speakers from the loom. I have made a short run of wires and mounted the BLD above where the clutch pedal would be (inside the removeable cover under the steering column). You need to know what you are doing when splicing from the loom, you dont want to damage anything or blow anything up.....

thanks again!!!

[Mr ©harisma]

With amplifiers hiss is caused by too much gain (voltage mis-match between deck and amp) and engine noise is 99% of the time caused by bad grounds, the other 1% is faulty product or engine computer interference, power wire running near RCA or speaker etc, but can almost always be fixed by finding the correct grounding point.

You would be surprised how often this actually happens when people have $5 RCA cables running near some sort of power, tisk tisk. I had mid range Stinger RCA's running near 4ga for over a metre - no problems! Don't skimp on wiring as your system is only as good as it's weakest component.

[RF 4MOTION]

I have installed a few 3Sixty.2's into VW's. Including the RNS510. They connect and operate the same as the BLD, no problems. Myself, I prefer to stick to the keep it simple rule, I dont want to be fiddling around with mega eq's/time alignment etc but each to their own. I have done all that in previous cars and you end up so lost that when you hit reset you actually notice how much better it sounds un-touched. I prefer to put the dollars into very high end gear and install it properly and the results are amazing, super clean, not an ounce of hiss or whine and with huge midbass up front and the woofer supplying just the lowest of frequencies.

[RF 4MOTION]

Yeah, you're right on the speaker location in the Jetta / Golf. I mainly hang out on the Passat forum so I have Passat on the brain... I have seen a few Golfs with door builds at the front that look quite good, mainly for cars that only have 2 way front set ups. With a 3 way set up in the front the location of the midbass is not so important (running freq range approx 100 - 400 Hz) as these frequencies travel in a wave of around 2ft - 1 metre. The 4" mid and tweeter are more important for positioning and aiming. The Passat factory locations are fine.

As a side note German Maestro offer many 3 way kits (utilising a pure 6.5" midbass crossed over accordingly and 4.0" mid / 1.0" tweeter) that are made to fit VW's starting at $999 a set..

[Mr ©harisma]

That's all true mate, but also comes down to the equipment. My new Arc amps are much quieter noise wise than what i had (Alpine PDX which has a pretty high THD), so it's good to check specs like that but it's not everything.

That is the capacitor on the input stage, filters alternator noise so yes can vary amp to amp

[PASHN8]

Thread from the dead revival!

Great read by all and some very informative stuff in here.

RF, I take it you work as an car audio specialist? Do you do private work as well?

[G-rig]

What did you end up doing/getting anyway spiff?

[spiff]

Okie dokes. I went back into the store today and came out with this after recommendation. Feedback much appreciated. Is this good gear? Maybe I paid too much? I don't know.

Soundstream STL4.500 (amp - http://www.soundstream.com/AudioProd...rs/stealth.htm)
Soundstream STL1.600 (amp - http://www.soundstream.com/AudioProd...rs/stealth.htm)
Soundstream Stealth13 (pancake subwoofer - http://www.soundstream.com/press_STEALTH13.htm)
Precision Power 356CS (front speakers - http://www.precisionpower.com/speakers/component.htm)
Soundstream SST6.5 (rear speakers - http://www.soundstream.com/AudioProd...antula_spk.htm)
Soundstream INT 2BX (signal processor - http://www.soundstream.com/AudioProd...rs/int-xbp.htm)
Aerpro MX204 (wiring - http://www.aerpro.com.au/list.php?pc...++KIT&cat_sno=)
+ dynamat front doors
+ installation

$4000

amps go under passenger and driver seats. a custom box to be built for the stealth sub on the left side of the trunk.

[Mk6 Golf]

Hay Spiff,

I too am looking at upgrading the factory sound system, which forms part of the RNS510 in my new Golf (which I just picked up last week).

The standard RNS510 sound system seems good, compared to my old Ford Panel Van (used for weekend rough work and towing boat into the water, etc), however good soon becomes OK and so on. I know I've only had the car a week but I find myself wanting more already. I mostly listen to rock (e.g. ACDC) and heavy metal (e.g. Mudvayne), and some mid-range groups (e.g. Godsmack, Disturbed, Nickelback, etc). I have just started my investigation today to see what I can do, ergo me reading some old posts such as this. Anyway, I was hoping I could add a bit more for (say) less than $2,000 installed. However, if I know I can get best bang for buck, then I could see myself spending up to $4,000 but the wife might have a say in that!

Have you had it installed yet, let me know when you do and how it sounds..

Thanks.

[spiff]

Hay Spiff,

I too am looking at upgrading the factory sound system, which forms part of the RNS510 in my new Golf (which I just picked up last week).

The standard RNS510 sound system seems good, compared to my old Ford Panel Van (used for weekend rough work and towing boat into the water, etc), however good soon becomes OK and so on. I know I've only had the car a week but I find myself wanting more already. I mostly listen to rock (e.g. ACDC) and heavy metal (e.g. Mudvayne), and some mid-range groups (e.g. Godsmack, Disturbed, Nickelback, etc). I have just started my investigation today to see what I can do, ergo me reading some old posts such as this. Anyway, I was hoping I could add a bit more for (say) less than $2,000 installed. However, if I know I can get best bang for buck, then I could see myself spending up to $4,000 but the wife might have a say in that!

Have you had it installed yet, let me know when you do and how it sounds..

Thanks.

It's at Alberts in Osborne Park today and tomorrow. I've asked them to take pics of the install as well. My original budget was $1.5 - $2k as well. To be honest, I know little about all these compared to some of the other guys on here. I think the RNS510 as a basic setup is quite good - especially when I listen to some of the stock systems in my friends' cars - so let's see if a layman can tell the difference with this upgrade.

[Mk6 Golf]

Today!! Excellent.. You must be very happy, you'll have a new sound system by the weekend.

From reading all the past posts (on this thread) it looks as though you have really done a bit of homework for yourself. I suspect I'll also have to do the same as (so it appears) there are many brands and types of components to choose from, thus making it very hard for a novice (like me) to know what's what, unless I have done "some" leg work myself first.. However, that said, I'd be very happy to hear what others (like yourself) have to say about the finished product.

As I too live on the west side of Oz, once you've tested out your new system a bit, i.e. under different conditions (e.g. stationary, freeway driving speeds, etc), would it be possible to let me know what you think about Alberts (Osborne Park), i.e. I'd like to know if you feel you got good value for your money, plus how you feel the "integration" with the RNS510 went...

Thanks very much.

p.s. so it looks like I may need to double my budget (from $2k to $4k)... Ooooh the wife's not gonna be very happy with that!

p.p.s. If anyone else out there has recently done something similar, let me know. Cheers.

[G-rig]

Yeah 2k doesn't go far in car audio particularly with decent brand gear. 3-4 is a better budget but not worth getting too perfect about it (like I did) as it's an endless persuit a f money pit, and not the best listening environment.

[G-rig]

Another option would be to order the following Dayton & seas drivers from the US, you can get a good front stage for an absurdly low amount of money (but would be a bit of stuffing around to get all the parts and they would have to be run active, or would need to make a your own passive crossover).

Three-way setup for MK5 (1", 4" ,8")
All prices USD.

RS100-4 $26 ea

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=295-378

RS225-4 $53 ea

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=295-376

SEAS Aluminum 1" dome tweeter $32 ea (and no, they do NOT sound like a metal tweeter)

http://www.madisound.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=45_229_250&products_id=633

~USD $215 all up (plus postage to here) but would be better than most sets execpt Morel's highest end stuff.

Edit:
Two-way setup for MK6 (1", 7"):

Dayton RS180-4 (7")
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=295-374

SEAS Aluminum 1" dome tweeter $32 ea (and no, they do NOT sound like a metal tweeter)

http://www.madisound.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=45_229_250&products_id=633

An Audison BitOne or Zapco DSP-6SL would complete it.

Then again the Dynaudio speakers are very good and suit the VW's and work particularly well with the ARC Mini Amps.